i interupt your regular scheduled programming with a meme
The LJ Meme
How did you come to start your LJ?
- When I was working in Zambia there wasn’t a whole lot to do recreationally except eat and read fanfiction. I was completely obsessed with Veronica Mars at the time and after googling for ff I discovered a lot of it was on LJ. When I returned home and became a full time loser I decided I’d have a go at writing ff too and started an LJ. It was VERY difficult and complicated and daunting at first and they really need to have some sort of ‘how to’ guide available for dumbasses such as myself. Particularly a lexicon. Took me months to become familiar with the lingo. I asked a LOT of stupid questions and struggled to find my feet.
How did you find your first friends?
I expect through the VM fandom. I remember evie_oh beta’d something for me very early on that never ended up seeing the light of day and I think I met some of my oldest LJ friends through that fandom.
Are those first friends still on your FL?
I think most of them are? The ones I care about anyway.
How long have you been on LJ?
Since…19th October 2006.
Do you have more friends or communities on your FL?
More communities. Which is fine, I’m appalling at keeping up with the few friends I do have, I see people with 100+ friends on their flists and wonder how they aren’t completely overwhelmed.
Do you do a lot of friends cuts?
I think I’ve done maybe 2? And I always do them secretly. I absolutely abhor those self involved ‘Comment if you don’t want to be cut’ posts. If you want to cut someone cut them, don’t make them beg! I refuse to comment on principle.
What do you like in an LJ friend?
Two words: Low maintenance. I might not comment for months then all of sudden hit your page with a vengeance. It’s not personal I’m just lame. I like reading about your lives, I’ll just forget to comment in a timely manner.
What do you dislike?
Whiney, bitchy, self involved little rants. I’ve been guilty of one of two but I do try to refrain.
What would make you un-friend someone immediately?
I guess a personal attack or some sort of ridiculously offensive post.
Have you been caught up in a lot of LJ drama?
A little bit. Its amazing how easy you can get caught up when bitches and crazies run a fandom. I’ve completely withdrawn from all fandom interaction now. I strictly observe.
Do RL friends and family members know you have a journal on LJ?
I’ve mentioned LJ to a few friends but it’s very difficult to fully explain exactly what LJ is. So I stopped even trying. Some people just know I have a blog.
Do you also have Facebook and if so, what do you prefer - LJ or FB?
I do have a facebook but that’s more about my RL. I update my status regularly but I’m on LJ more I think. I prefer LJ.
What about Twitter?
I have a Twitter for celebrity stalking purposes and keeping apprised of the progress of my favourite fanfic authors but I rarely rarely tweet. A couple of my RL friends follow me so I’m cautious. I’ve been tempted to start a new twitter on which I wont accept any followers and I’ll use it to just air grievances in an un-self-conscious manner.
Do you blog on any other sites?
No. I’m constantly pondering a blog spot but I’ll be dammed if I can think of a cool name for it.
How often do you check in on LJ?
All the time. First thing in a morning when I get to work. Lunch time. After work. God forbid a picture of Rpattz get posted that I don’t see.
What do you rarely or never post about?
Anything personal that makes me uncomfortable. I keep that in the vault. I generally keep my posts light.
Why don’t you post about that?
For the aforementioned feelings of discomfort. Apparently I’m ‘secretive’ (according to my mother) and ‘emotionally retarded’ (according to my best friend). Both are correct.
Have you ever thought about deleting your journal?
Hell no.
Have you ever changed your username?
Nah. I’m cheap and I’m not paying to do that. Plus I’d never ever be able to think of a cool enough name. I don’t hate my current LJ name, it sort of fits.
Why did you choose your current username?
It was a partial nod to Veronica Mars (back in the good old days when she was my hero and I didn’t despise Rob Thomas) and a reference to the fact that I am (or definitely used to be/am still a bit) of an emotional disaster. I used to keep a note in my purse reminding me to ‘be cool’ and not be a cluster fuck of self concious emotional nervousness.
If you’re looking for new friends, how do you find them?
I very very rarely add anyone new. It’s tended not to work out so well sometimes so I wait to be added. I haven’t met a keeper in a long while. I guess if I went on the hunt it would be through a fandom. I don’t add cold anymore, that’s just weird to me now.
Are you taking new people on to your Friends List just now?
I’m always open to it. But I’m so withdrawn from fandom that I don’t much ‘meet’ people.
Finally, tell us the reasons why you keep an online journal.
To read fan fiction, to keep apprised of my fandom interests, to cyber stalk Robert Pattinson, to read about peoples lives, to distract me from mine…